Original subtitles

(MultiCom Jingle)

- [Al] Welcome back, everybody,

to the 1997 World Series of Poker,

where Stu The Kid Ungar

is attempting to make one of

the greatest comebacks in poker history

by winning the no-limit

Texas Hold-em Championship

a record third time.

- [Man] And Al,

the amazing thing about this

is that Stuey would be achieving that feat

after 16 years of personal struggle

where victories were really few and far between.

- [Al] And standing between Stuey and history

is John Stremp,

a local casino executive

who's shown remarkable fortitude,

actually, in making it to this point.

And here it is, Stu is raising enough

to put Stremp all in.

- [Man] This could be it, Al.

If Stremp wins,

it'll change the tide of the tournament.

If Stuey wins, he's got the championship

again after 16 long years.

(upbeat rock music)

- You're not sure?

I thought you're supposed to be

some freaking genius or something.

- [Man On The Phone] Yeah?

Well, fuck you, then.

(chuckling)

- Come on, Stuey.

You could do better than that.

- Do better than what?

I wake up,

you're in my goddamn hotel room wanting to know

if I seen you before.

What kind of fucked-up game is that?

- I thought you liked games.

Cards, horses, football

I heard you play golf, even.

You got a good swing, Stuey?

- So that's what this is about?

- What do you think it's about?

- Oh, man, Look

stop screwing with me.

You do what you gotta do.

- [Man] You in a hurry?

Got a hot date?

What are the odds, Stuey?

You're good with that stuff, right?

Maybe you can get to that blade

before I even figured out what you were up to.

You know

cut and run.

Me?

I'd say I'm a 20 to one favorite

to slice your fucking heart out

before you're off the bed.

That about right?

- Hey, I know people, man.

I know important people.

- Don't get all lathered up, Stuey.

You wanna know what the game is?

I hear you're a worthless piece of Vegas shit,

which is what you kind of look like

at this point, if you don't mind me saying.

No offense.

But then I hear other things.

Like, you're a, a God

or a legend or something.

- A bona fide fucking legend.

- Yeah?

That's interesting.

And my job isn't usually real interesting.

So tell me a story.

- A story?

- Yeah.

About you.

- Why the fuck would I?

- Because then you might figure out

why I'm here.

And if you do that,

I'll go.

- You'll go?

- On my father's eyes.

(dramatic music)

- Get off me!

- Give us the money, Ungar!

- I ain't got none.

- Don't give us that crap.

Punch him again, Flesh!

- No, wait, All right!

Just let me up and I'll give.

(upbeat rock music)

Hi, Leon.

- Yeah, Franky.

Stupid, I said 18.

Yes, 18.

I don't make the line.

You want it or not?

I don't wanna hear a joke.

Franky, I don't wanna hear,

I don't.

Are you a lonely person?

What's the matter with you?

- Hey, Pop.

- Oh, Christ.

What happened to you?

No, sorry.

Call me back.

Who did this, Stuey?

That Sheinberg kid again?

I'll speak to his father.

- No, no, no.

It's okay.

- It's okay?

- Yeah, it's okay.

- You mean that move we talked about?

How?

- I dropped some change.

It worked perfect.

- Where'd you get him?

Solly, Stuey got that fat-ass bully

Sheinberg kid right in the chatchkes!

- Congratulations.

I love it, ah Beautiful!

That's it, kid.

That's how you're gonna do it.

You're smarter than all of 'em.

You don't have to be big

when you're smart, right?

- Yeah.

- Yeah.

You don't need

any of this nonsense, do you?

Here's what we're gonna do.

We're all gonna go out of town

this weekend and celebrate.

Some place fancy. Sound good?

- Sure.

- All right. Go get washed up.

I'll have Jimmy pour you something

to take the sting away Go on.

Hey, Stuey.

This was special.

But you don't come down here

unless I bring you, okay?.

I mean it.

Yeah, no,

I'm talking to my kid.

My kid, my kid, he just kicked

the Sheinberg kid in the balls.

Yeah, you hope he don't kick

you in the balls.

Oh, you don't have any balls.

Yeah, I knew that.

(kids giggling)

- Where's Stuey?

- You should know.

- He's a good boy.

- Sure you wanna do that?

- You talk too much, shrimp.

- Okay, just asking.

Gin.

(all cheering)

It's like I already knew how to play.

My mom started to teach me.

she let me watch, but I knew.

I knew how they fit.

how they felt.

It was like just some door I open up.

- More like a mouth.

- You know cards were invented in China?

First they invented paper,

then cards right after.

Not these, though.

These came from England later.

That's why there's a Queen, you know.

Four suits of 13 cards.

It's just

magic.

It's perfect.

- The Devil's work.

- Yeah Yeah.

But God, too.

Let's go to work.

- Hey this looks like the hottest club in town.

Hello, everybody.

I brought my twin brother from Jersey.

We'll see you inside.

- I wasn't really allowed to go to the club.

But sometimes. when Ma was visiting

her sister or something, I got to go.

At night,

there was no place like it.

- Hi, folks.

Everything okay?

The martinis good?

God bless you.

Nice to see you.

Welcome Welcome.

This is Stuey, my son.

Senator, how are you?

So nice to see you.

- Pop was a big man there.

Everyone shook his hand Jews and Italians.

Brooklyn Moe Weinstein.

Big Anthony Tontolla.

Jackie Nose.

Bad Phillie Broma.

even celebrities

that came down sometimes everybody.

Most of the time there,

I felt dizzy, I couldn't breathe.

It was so much

bigger than everything else.

- He's my bodyguard.

I brought him along.

- And these guys they knew how to live.

I mean, broads, booze,

gambling, all of it.

But they never got sloppy Ever.

And they took exactly zero shit from nobody.

None of this corporate political bullshit.

If they liked you, you were in.

If not, you were fucked.

Not like now.

Like you company muscle guys, right?

Not my style.

♪ Martini time ♪

♪ I'm lining up my straws ♪

- So they liked you ?

- Shit, yeah.

They saw I could play cards.

so I played for them.

They set the games off, they stake me, gave me a piece.

The fish never saw me coming.

Never forgot me, either.

I razzed them so bad.

they always came back.

Vince and the other guys,

they respected me for my talent.

Don't work that way no more.

- It's not so different now, Stuey.

- When I was bar mitzvah'd in '66.

they all came, Every one.

They all gave me cash,

three grand, Out of respect.

You gonna tell me it happens that way now?

- Yeah, You give respect.

you get respect.

- I gave respect.

- What'd you do with the money Stuey?

- I don't remember.

- Yeah you do.

- No, Maxwell!

You're gonna kill him!

- That's what I should do, Flo,

after what he did!

That was your bar mitzvah money,

you little shit!

You spit on tradition!

- No!

- I'm sorry, Pop.

I didn't mean--

- You didn't mean?

You didn't mean?

Let me tell you what I mean.

From now on, no more club,

no more cards, no more track,

no more nothing,

you understand?

You go to school,

you come home.

You use that big brain of yours

to do something other than

embarrass me and your mother,

you understand me?

- Vincent wants me to--

(slapping)

- That's right, run away, you little shit.

Don't let me catch you!

What?

- He-Hey!

There's my little genius.

Jesus Christ.

Who did this to you?

Was it your father?

- I can't play cards no more.

- He's mad at you,

you know what insolence is?

It means disrespect.

You were insolent when you took that money to the track,

it was for your future.

It's in your religion.

You understand my emphasis?

- He means it never again.

- You really wanna play cards, Stuey?

For real.

- Yeah, more than anything.

- All right.

I'll take care of it.

Let's go get a steak for that shiner.

- Steak?

- Yeah, for you filet mignon.

You got some cash on you?

- Yeah.

- Good.

'Cause this credit thing it's for losers.

- Stuey.

Come here, son.

- I'm sorry I was late, Pop.

Ralph's dad got a new color TV,

and we were watching Lost in Space.

- It's okay.

Stuey, come here I wanna talk to you.

- Pop, what are you doing?

- Remember when you were five son,

you said you could see the whole world from up here.

- Yeah.

- Well what do you see now son?

- I dunno.

- You know I saw things too when we were sitting here

together like this, you remember.

- No.

- Oh yeah, big things, right through that wall.

My son the doctor,

driving up in his new Cadillac, visiting us

from his house in Connecticut.

Can't you see Stuey?

- No pop I don't.

- You know what it is.

- You're talking crazy pop.

- And the thing about it is,

(laughing)

it's my fault, I brought you down here.

I introduced you to that gangster Vincent.

- Vincent aint crazy.

- Oh no he's a great guy.

So what if you end up in the trunk of a car in Bayon,

he's a real fucking prince.

- Well you don't have any trouble taking his money.

- Because that's the only way I can keep you

and your mother in this life

You think I wouldn't do it

another way if I could?

I'm not smart enough!

Or brave enough if you wanna know the truth.

But you can Stuey you're good in school.

- I hate school.

It's boring!

- And you don't like baseball,

you don't like football,

you don't like anything

except those cards.

You're gonna kill your mother this way Stuey.

One way or the other you know that.

- Mom like cards pop.

I helped her with her games.

Leave mom out of this!

- She doesn't see!

- What, that you sit down at the club

and take these guys' money and respect

and then you spit on them

behind their backs?

No, she doesn't see!

And neither do I.

(door banging)

- Call

- 35.

- Stuey, take a walk with me.

- Vincent, where'd you come up with this kid?

- Kid my ass he's a killer midget.

- He's a killer jew cowboy midget

who got 58 hundred of my money

- Stuey.

- Later Vincent, I'm cruising here.

No competition at all.

- Be careful monkey.

- Hey, watch your mouth.

Stuey come with me.

(crying)

- He was a good man Flo.

- He was with a slut Vincent.

In our bed.

- Flo, please not here.

Stuey, we're gonna take care of your mother, are we?

- Yeah.

- Good, we'll talk.

(crying)

- You quit school.

- Wouldn't you?

Most kids my age would piss their pants for five dollars

I was walking around with 2,000 in mine.

- Not for long.

- I took care of what I needed to.

- Or someone did.

Everyone needs partners, man.

- Where you been, Stuey?

I've been waiting for two fucking hours.

Jesus Christ.

Your dick is gonna fall off

if you keep going to them places.

Where this time?

- Dolly's.

- Skanks.

Victoria's is better.

- You wanna go?

- Nah, I don't wanna go.

Vince is gonna be mad as it is.

The game was supposed to start an hour ago.

- So We still gotta eat, though, don't we?

- I guess so.

Whose is this?

- Teddy's.

- Teddy's?

Teddy Teddy?

- Yeah.

- Three grand Tuesday night Teddy?

- 35 hundred.

- He gave you his car?

- Lent it to me.

- You tell 'em to go to hell

- [Both] And they look forward to the trip.

- Unbelievable.

Listen.

Vincent wanted me to speak to you.

- Blah blah blah

- I'm serious Stuey.

- Okay.

- People aren't happy.

- People?

Tommy Spinotti,

Carmine Frangine,

- Carmine's a prick.

- He says you owe him 20,000.

- So I'll pay him, I always pay,

you know that Anthony.

- No I don't know that.

You owe out over 100 grand.

- So we set up a couple of games.

- Sure, and then we'll win,

and then you'll run off to the track or find

some asshole bookie to take your bet.

Vincent can cover you forever Stuey,

he's getting pressure.

- Okay, Anthony, Okay.

- Just a few more minutes mister Leo.

Oh here we go now sir.

Flaming Christ, Anthony!

This guy's come all the way from Vegas for Christ's sake.

- I'm sorry Johnny Stuey you know he--

- Johnny, can we begin now?

- Absolutely, Mr. Leo.

- Hi, it's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Leo.

We've heard a lot of great things about you.

- And I have you sir.

So, shall we begin?

I believe knock rummy is the game?

- I won't be playing tonight.

- I don't understand.

- Hey how you doing, I'm Stuey.

Groovy suit, real sharp.

- I'm not amused Johnny.

- No sir no sir, this is Stu Ungar, your opponent.

- Oh, okay then, please.

What would you like to play for, kid?

- Anything you want.

Two bucks a point,

500 a game too much?

- Sounds about right.

- Good, deal.

- We can cut for.

- No no no no kid can beat.

(upbeat music)

♪ I'm rolling the dice ♪

♪ Feeling pretty good ♪

♪ Wondering if lady luck will do what she should ♪

♪ I'm thinking she will ♪

♪ I might make a buck ♪

♪ We go for the thrill ♪

♪ Me and this lady luck ♪

♪ Lights are looking so bright ♪

♪ Here on Primont street ♪

♪ Got a happy smile for everyone that I meet ♪

♪ We'll make the big spin ♪

♪ The good times have struck ♪

- Gin, I win.

♪ We're looking to win, me and this lady luck ♪

♪ I'm rolling the dice ♪

♪ Feeling pretty good ♪

♪ I'm wondering if lady luck will do what she should ♪

♪ I'm thinking she will ♪

♪ I might make a buck ♪

♪ We go for the thrill ♪

♪ Me and this lady luck ♪

- If Stu wins this next game,

that will be about 83 hundred total Mr. Leo.

- Nice run of luck there, kid.

- Oh, it ain't luck.

- What, then?

- I know you.

- You know me?

- Yeah so I know what you got.

- Any good gin player learns that.

- Yeah, but I know now.

- After four discards?

Impossible.

- Double or nothing says I do.

- Stuey.

- That's a bet.

So talk to me little master.

- Well, I know you got a pretty decent hand

'cause you always lean a little forward

when the cards look good to you on the deal.

That means you got two spreads,

'cause if you had three, when I hit you

with the king of diamonds you would have knocked,

which you didn't.

Since I got the queen of diamonds,

you got kings.

- Brilliant.

- Oh not really

see but do you know you always keep

your low spreads on the right side of your hand.

Yeah you do.

But with aces for some reason

you start them on the left,

until you hit something else and you move 'em over.

Now, that's interesting, right?

Then I also know you really really hate

to throw middle cards early

except if you're protected and fishing,

so I would bet that seven of hearts

came off a pair of them.

Since I got the six of hearts, you got the eight of hearts.

Along with the eight of clubs,

the six of clubs,

and the seven,

I'd say could be spades or diamonds I'm not really sure.

Not that it would matter--

- Alright alright kid you made your point.

How about we just call it an even ten grand

right now and be done with it?

- Come on Stuey, 10 grand's a good night.

- No.

No, I don't think so, Mr. Leo.

You're kind of a diamond guy,

with your suit and the rings and stuff,

so I'm gonna say diamonds, yeah, seven of diamonds.

Now personally I would have kept

the seven seven eight nut cracker together

and risk the six but that's just me.

- I really admire your courage kid.

But I think this makes us even.

Oh, and, uh

if you ever get to Vegas, look me up.

Deenos at The Sands.

(soft music)

- So you're laying ten Gs

against 66 hundred to make that call.

- Yeah, but I had him.

I call right, he's destroyed.

If you could take a man out, you do it.

- Vincent was angry with you.

- Oh Vincent was always mad at me for something.

- What'd he do to you?

- Nothing.

He said he felt acrimonious towards me.

That means--

- Angry.

- Yeah.

You know he memorized the entire Webster's dictionary

when he was away in Attica?

He could define any word for 50 bucks.

- Classy.

- Yeah, that's the word.

- He doesn't like to do his way.

Thank you dear.

Stuey stop starring that's impolite.

- Sorry

- It's okay.

- No it's not.

Do your other customers gawk at you like that?

- Well,

- No, they don't.

'Cause they got class.

- I got class.

- He looks pretty classy.

I'll leave this here.

- Thank you.

- Thanks.

- You got zero class.

Look at that jacket.

Like you've never been in one before.

She's got class.

- Yeah.

- When's he coming?

- When he gets here is when.

Eat your scone.

- Looks like a muffin.

- It's a scone, it's from Europe.

You see you're Borish.

- Boris?

- Did I say Boris?

I said Borish,

a vulgarian, nevermind.

- What is the problem Vincent?

- The problem Stuey is that you owe

over 100 grand to bookies in this borough

which I cannot cover at this moment

and if Gus likes you, there will be no problem.

- Okay.

- Except liking you is sometimes a problem.

- I'll be alright Vincent.

- This is not somebody to be trifled with.

You get my emphasis?

- Yeah I understand.

- Show some class.

Gus, thank you for coming.

- Good to see you Vincent.

How is Maria?

- She's great, she's wonderful thank you very much

and how's your friend?

- Ah don't ask don't ask.

You must be--

- Yeah Stu, Stu Ungar, it's a pleasure to meet you sir.

- He's a little one he.

Can you bring me a cup, Angela honey

and a cannoli please bring me a cannoli.

- Of course Mr.

- So Stuey you were Max's son?

- Yeah, I mean yes sir.

- He ran a very nice club, my condolences.

- Thank you.

- It seems he liked whores.

Do you like whores too?

- No, sir.

- Good.

Because they spread disease.

I won't have that.

Vincent tells me you have a knack for cards,

gin rummy.

- Oh yeah, poker, clunk and cab, pinnacle, whatever.

- Yes but what will be making money with

to win consistently?

We need to be the very best,

that is the secret, so,

Gin rummy then, it's a great game.

- Well I'm great at all of 'em sir.

- You got a live one here Vincent, you do.

Angela.

I must run.

Give young Stu here my food.

He's going to be a millionaire, you know.

But he needs a little meat on him,

and a date with a good girl.

I'll make some calls Vincent.

You get the markers paid off soon, yes?

- Right away Gus.

- Ah good, well, he's yours now.

Don't let him near Funzi Giacomo or the other families.

I can't help it.

- Yes Gus.

- And get him a new Jacket for Christ sake.

Adio, Adio Vincente.

Gratzi.

(chuckling)

- Just another $2 whore,

eh, Stuey?

- Fuck you.

- A real ladies man.

I bet you swept her right off her feet.

- Shows how much you know brainiac.

- Life is full of wonders.

(lighter clicking)

- What time is it?

- Six, seven, eight, nine,

- Is it ten yet?

- Fuck Stuey, it's 10:15.

Why don't you buy a fucking watch?

You fucking me up here.

One,

two,

three,

four, five.

- Give a dime.

- six, I don't have change.

- Seven, eight.

- Give me a fucking dime, Anthony.

Those weren't balls them balls

you were jingling all night.

- Fuck.

Goddamn study.

- It's 31.50 upstairs it's still 31.50,

I'll be back.

Hi is Angela in yet?

Angela.

Yeah it's Stu, Stu Ungar from the other day.

No with the blue jacket on.

No with Mr. Gemana, yeah yeah, how you doing.

Not bad I was just wondering, yeah okay.

Yeah.

Oh, it's okay.

Don't worry about it.

No I was, you know,

thinking maybe we can go have dinner or something if you,

Yeah?

Okay.

Uh, great, Um.

Friday?

7:30?

Great Okay.

You know Joey's over by,

okay yeah yeah yeah

Okay, great.

I'll see you then.

All right, bye.

- 31.50, 32.50, it's 32.50 Stu.

- It's 31.50.

- It's 32.50.

- A hundred says it's 31.

- One,

two,

three,

four.

- So I've already taken the Porsche month for a grand

Max, he started feeling a little sorry for him.

I said look, it's not your night,

why don't we just call it.

He won't have none of it, he wants to keep playing.

So I say I gotta go alright let's call the cards.

Double or nothing.

Wants to go again, I win.

Again, I win.

Down eight grand.

Whole place is watching.

He says one more.

He's sweating like a pig, he cuts.

A king.

Now he's smiling real big,

he's relaxing, lights a cigar.

I reach down, kapow, the ace of freaking spades.

The whole place goes berserk.

- No What did he do?

- He turned white as a sheet,

he sat back down in his chair.

- And?

- He died right there.

- Oh, my God.

Really?

- No, we want again and he won.

I had you going didn't I?

- Yeah.

- Um, sir, about the wine, my manager,

Do you possibly have any identification?

A driver's license, perhaps?

- What you don't think I'm 18?

- Sorry sir.

- Well, I don't drive,

but I do have a few pictures of myself.

Most 17 year olds don't carry around

so many pictures do they?

- Yes sir, Kiante, right away.

- You look better in person.

- You think?

Bad day.

- I don't know, I always loved

all the hubbub of it.

You know, people coming and going,

winning, losing, excitement, you know.

- Yeah, exactly.

- This is me.

- It's nice.

- Not really.

It's safe though.

- It's a good Italian neighborhood.

- Well, goodnight.

- I could come up.

- No.

- I'm sorry I--

- Not yet.

- Well goodnight then.

- Bye Stu.

- That's your little whore Ungar?

- You shouldn't be talking like that Carmine.

- Or what?

You got a lot of balls hanging around here.

Where's my 20 grand?

- You'll get it.

- I'm getting really tired of this bullshit Stuey, really

what is Spud here broke one of your legs,

what would you say then?

- I'd say you'd be in a world of fucking hurt

then Carmine.

Why don't you talk to Vincent and Gus?

- Yeah, I talked to fucking Vincent,

you Jew bastard.

That's the only thing keeping you fucking alive.

You little piece of shit.

- What do you want a smoke or something?

- Carmine, let's go.

- One of these days,

and with you,

it's just a matter of time.

There ain't gonna be

no Vincent

no Gus.

Then you and me my friend,

we're gonna have a nice long dance.

Oh, yeah.

We will.

- See you Stu.

- Nice neighborhood.

Want some coffee?

- And they lived

happily ever after.

- You asking or telling?

- She couldn't stop it.

Even her.

- Jesus Christ what the fuck is this?

- So you like living with her?

- Yeah I like living with her.

I played cards, we went out, good times.

- But it wasn't enough?

- Hey, nobody gets everything they need from one person.

- Depends what you need.

- This is the last time I'd have to ask about my business

how good is that?

- You think she knew?

- I bet she knew.

His brother got shot full of holes,

his guys dying all around,

he wasn't thinking someone bowed with him.

- So why'd she ask?

- So he could tell her what she wanted to hear.

- And she could be with him.

- Yeah.

- Yeah.

That's romantic.

- I guess.

- So where we going?

- I dunno, wanna go to track, we can catch

the first race.

- No Stuey I'm hungry.

- Okay, good Here.

Hold on one second.

Yeah, it's Stuey.

Uh, could you set us up with a couple

of spaghetti and meatballs, two orders.

Be there about 10 minutes.

Okay.

- What was that?

- Joey's I ordered for us come on.

- You ordered?

- We don't wait, this way we'll make the 7th race.

- I don't wanna do that Stuey.

Can't we have a nice evening?

- Of course we can but I promised

I would meet Anthony at the track.

- You promised you'd go out with me.

- I know I know but it's business it just came up, come on.

- Fine, you go then.

Maybe I'll be there when you get back.

- We'll do it tomorrow, I promise. Okay?

Just you and me.

Real romantic-like I promise.

- I don't like this, Stuey.

- You never like nothing Anthony.

How come some dipshit's always gotta stay

in front of the screen will you move you asshole?

- 60k, you shouldn't have asked me.

- Would you stop acting like my grandmother,

I why I called you.

- This ain't like usual.

This is more dangerous.

- What do you mean dangerous,

you got the loan from Leo, right?

- He wouldn't give it to me.

He said you owe him.

- Roscoe, then?

No.

- Freddie.

No!

- Who, then?

- Carmine.

- Carmine?

How the hell did, you're good, you're good.

- We can't lose right?

- I told you I got a line to Katrina.

This horse is more loaded than a house kitchen hot pan.

Anthony.

- We gotta win.

- You said Carmine right?

Carmine Frangine.

- You made me get it to him.

I couldn't get it any other way.

- What the fuck is going on?

- Front you took almost back in the money.

Gus won't cover us if we lose.

I should've told you.

- Don't sweat it big boy it's a lock.

Hey can we get a couple of beers here?

(door banging)

- What are you looking at?

Why don't you get out of here.

Name me one reason why I shouldn't let them have you.

- Vince I'm sorry.

- No you don't say a word you shut the fuck up.

They broke Anthony's arm.

You think this is a fucking game?

- Jesus.

- It would've been worst.

Except they like Anthony,

which is more than I can say for you.

- It's fucking Carmine.

- Yeah fucking Carmine, fucking Stuey,

they want you dead.

They've had enough of you,

I've had enough of you, you embarrass me,

you're a fuck up.

- I don't know what to say Vince,

I'll do whatever you want.

- Yes, you will.

You're going to Las Vegas tonight.

- Tonight?

But Angela--

- Fuck Angela.

You don't even know when your life's

being saved, so shut the fuck up.

You go to Las Vegas you find Mr. Leo

there's a Gin tournament next week

100 grand first prize,

Every penny comes back here, you understand?

Every fucking penny.

You get my emphasis?

- Yeah, sure.

- I know you since you're a kid Stuey.

But you fuck up this time,

on my eyes I'll kill you myself.

- Okay.

- Gino will take you to the airport.

- Gino?

- Yeah, give you something to think about.

(soft music)

- Gino how about go to mama house.

- Vincent said take you straight to the airport.

Come on, Gino.

Please.

- Okay, Stuey Sure.

(upbeat music)

- Shit.

I'm here.

- Yes sir,

Mr. Leo is in the office, back by the cage.

- Thanks.

Wait a second.

- Thank you sir.

The cage is at the back of the casino to your left.

- Great thank you.

- You have a wonderful evening, sir.

And if you wanna go anywhere,

ask for Gerald.

- Okay, Gerry I'll do that.

- Welcome to Las Vegas, sir.

- Thank you.

- How about that one?

Me and Frank.

Best in the business, best in the world,

as far as I'm concerned.

They got a couple of guys making

some noise now up and down the strip,

but, it won't be the same.

Stu Ungar, hard card player.

Nearly beat the crap out of me in New York at Gin.

Some kind of player, this boy.

Listen, Stu,

I got here 500 gambling tables,

one of the best sports books in town.

- Wow.

- Yeah wow.

- I catch you near any one of 'em,

If I even hear you're near

any one of them before the tournament.

Micky here will have to cut off all your fingers,

very slowly, capiche?

- Yeah.

- Great.

Micky show him to his room.

After the tournament you stay anywhere you please.

Stuey by the way.

The tournament, don't lose.

(upbeat music)

- And finally, this year's winner of the Palm Tower's

Gin Rummy Shootout

with a grand prize of one thousand dollars

ladies and gentlemen,

put your hands together

and welcome little Stuey Ungar!

(audience clapping)

You sure you're old enough

to win this, kid?

- You sure you got enough hair to this buddy?

(upbeat music)

- Can I touch it?

- Yeah okay but just don't let anyone see you.

- Wow.

- It's nice huh?

- Stuey.

- Anthony.

Oh shit man.

- Neh don't hurt too bad, itches sometimes.

- Anthony Jeez man.

- Hello?

- Um.

- Sondra.

- Yeah, Sondra, listen. I gotta take care

of some business, okay?

Some other time.

- Alright, business is business.

- Same old fucking Stuey.

- They're like fucking sharks around here.

They smell blood in the water.

- Got it?

- Yeah, it's all here.

You can tell Vincent.

- Yeah yeah good I will.

- Hey you want a drink or something?

- Nah I gotta be getting back.

She burned your stuff.

Put it all in a big pile outside the apartment, poof.

Cops came

firemen Everything.

Big scene.

Listen I gotta get going.

You could do this, Stuey.

Just stick with with you're good at.

- Yeah I will.

- She was crying the whole time.

The whole time she was crying.

- You could've gone home.

You'd paid your debt.

(laughing)

I'm funny?

- You think I broke even?

- Yeah.

- Yeah.

Think I should have climbed on a plane,

gone back to New York, gotten a job as an accountant

or some shit, made my apologies.

- There are worst things.

- No, no no man, there are no worst things.

I'd rather blow my fucking brains out.

- For breaking even?

- No for leaving the goddamn table!

This was what I was meant to do.

This was where I was supposed to be.

Movie stars in Hollywood,

politicians in Washington.

- Gamblers in Vegas.

- Yeah.

- And all is right with the world.

- But you know, looking at Anthony right there,

thinking about all the bad things

that I had done, I promised myself I wasn't

gonna gamble no more, and I didn't.

I really didn't.

For a long time, I didn't.

- But you played cards.

- Yeah but what we did wasn't gambling.

(upbeat rock music)

The math guys call it positive expectation.

It's how all these big casinos get built.

You throw down your cash, hour after hour,

and the casinos edge on the game

just whittles it away.

Sometimes it's just a tiny edge.

but it's always there.

They know if you win,

it's just temporary.

so they buy you your room and your dinner.

and they smile and wait for you to lay your money down again

until eventually you lose.

And that's what we did too.

Just waited for ya.

In the 60s, guys would wear cowboy hats

and had cutsie names playing poker.

By 1980 some of 'em were still around

but they weren't the best of 'em.

The new pros were math teachers, bankers, lawyers,

scientists, guys who stopped in Vegas for a vacation

and figured out they could make more money

doing this than any shitty nine to fiver.

Some of 'em made money,

some went broke and ran back to real life.

Our favorite thing was to beat the shit

out of some young hot shot.

Some jerk off who dominated his home poker game

and thought he could make a living playing.

Just destroy him.

And the great thing for us

was that Texas Hold'em was such an easy game.

You get two private cards.

five others are dealt up.

Whoever makes the best five card hand wins.

Piece of cake, and more assholes showed up everyday

to prove they had it.

It was a fucking feast.

'Cause these donkeys never figured out

that the game wasn't about cards.

It was about people.

- Re-raise.

- Jeez Mario I'm not so sure you wanna do that.

- Deal the cards.

(knocking)

I gotta bet you 5,000 Mario.

(chuckling)

- Raise 5,000.

- I don't know what's your bet Mario,

but I gotta call.

- Now you could be a good player

and do the right thing all the time and do okay.

But a great player knows when to make a move.

(knocking)

That did it.

Bet you 20 grand.

- You got pocket aces.

- No Mario I don't.

But I'll tell you what I'll do.

You give me one of those black checks over there.

I'll turn over whichever one of these two cards

you'd like to see.

No I'm square, I mean,

hell you've had a rough night you know.

- That one.

- This one?

- Son of a bitch.

You got a full house, twos full of threes,

that's why you let me look,

they're both the same.

- Nice draw.

- Well not exactly.

- Oh my fucking God.

You could have turned either one.

Jesus what a pluck.

- He's just playing the story detail, you did it.

- Cocktail unbelievable.

- Some players make fucking magic, that's all.

- Hey!

- DJ liked golf.

So did a lot of young guys.

I couldn't really play,

but we worked it out where I matched up pretty good.

In golf you could do that.

- He's got about 180 yards to the pin.

Very very big shot for the young man.

He's got the cue at the creek in front of the green,

it's a very very big shot for him.

He's getting prepared now as we can see,

he's putting on his glove.

Yes now he's putting on his other gloves.

Oh and yes he possesses the things on the rule

which the competitor can throw the ball up anywhere.

And this certainly is anywhere.

Here he goes.

(chuckling)

- Well I guess that ought to do it.

- Gotta bent?

- 60 large.

- You're on.

- Too deep for you Stuey, You'll drown!

Son of a bitch.

- So he's the worst right, he leaves every bet today

he's playing bad, he looks bad, his swing is awful,

he's sweating, right, final hole, crack,

He hits the ball off this huge tee

three feet from the fucking cup.

Truth word of honor.

- So Stuey you're gonna try the series this year

or you're just gonna hustle off all your life.

- And that as they say was that.

- [Announcer] Welcome to Binion's Horseshoe

and the 1980 World Series of Poker.

Shuffle up and deal.

- In 1945, Johnny Moss and Nick the Greek

played heads up poker at the front door

of Binion's Horseshoe for five months stake.

Five fucking months!

People stood six-deep to watch.

1970 Binion's had the first series,

Moss won all five games.

By 80.

There were over 300 players,

20 events, and three million in prize money.

Not that it mattered.

You can make more money in side games.

It was the fuckin'

World Series of Poker.

and either you had the chops

to win a bracelet, or you didn't.

(soft country music)

I call.

(audience clapping and cheering)

(coughing)

- Not too spicy.

Nothing for you, you're skinny.

- I'm fine I'm too hyper right now.

- Alright.

So here we are.

- Yeah.

- World champion of poker.

- Yeah.

- They're talking about you at home,

the kid this, the kid that.

- Oh yeah?

- Yeah.

When you made the final table.

(coughing)

you got a girlfriend?

- Nothing serious.

- Maybe you should give her a call.

- She won't talk to me.

- Time passes, things change.

- I heard the club closed.

- Yes, yes.

People wanna go to Atlantic City, OTB.

What can you do?

- Yeah.

- Still you can have a real life now.

- Life's good.

- Life is good?

You live in a shitty little apartment,

you hangout with hookers, that's not a life.

Listen, I'm gonna go to my room and lie down.

- Okay.

- I'll sleep.

I'll call you when I wake up.

- See you in a little while.

(crying)

- I did good didn't I Anthony?

He thought so no?

- You did real good.

- Stuey.

You look good.

- You too Harnold.

- Shit, Vincent looked better when he died.

It's really some spread Stuey.

- Well he deserved that.

- The casket, it's incredible.

- Yeah, bronze, Hand-made.

- You and those cards.

We all knew it.

- When you went to Vegas,

some of the guys thought it could be bad for you but,

where else is someone with your talent

supposed to go for Christ's sake?

Flowers need water.

- Angela.

Angela!

- I have to get home.

Tell Anthony thanks.

- Sure, did you change your hair.

- Yeah, change is good.

- It looks like.

- Go home Stuey.

- You really want me to?

- Yeah.

- No you don't.

- No, oh no?

What, you're gonna tell me what I want now?

You think you're gonna ride back into town

like some fucking western hero

and sweep the lady off her feet?

No listen up big shot, I'm getting married,

you got that?

Married.

He's a lawyer a good one, so fuck off.

(chuckling)

- What are you thinking?

- I need to wash these windows.

- So this guy huh?

- He's, uh really smart.

Tall.

- I got a million bucks in a vault at the Dunes.

Checking accounts don't make any fucking sense,

paying to give them your money.

You can have a life.

- No Stuey.

- Listen listen, maybe it's not exactly

what you were thinking but you could do

whatever you want.

Great big house, round windows,

fountains and hedges and shit and anything, Anything.

Plus I like kids.

- You don't know any kids.

- Yeah but I would.

- You really believed it, didn't you?

- What?

- That you could lead a normal life.

- I lead a normal life.

- In Vegas?

- For Vegas, it was a normal life.

(soft music)

- Sweetie, I put your clothes in the bag.

- Thank you.

- I'll be downstairs.

- What is it what is it what is it,

what is it, let's have a look.

- Glass of wine.

- Okay.

- Oh.

- Isn't it beautiful?

- That's a fucking palace.

- Isn't it, I love it.

- Let's drink.

- Personally I think your six to one is too low.

You get married, you get soft.

Raise.

- I don't know,

he'll be real relaxed now he's getting regular.

Call.

- Well regular's not the issue boys,

now that he's getting it for free, I'm out.

- Hey stop giving Walty any bad ideas

he might raise my mortgage which is why I will repeat

six to one or not, call your lame bluff.

- Mr. Ungar, if you would just sign here,

I'll get out of your way.

- Sure, oh you're in it deep now DJ.

- But there is a matter of a down payment.

- Yeah, 40K, right?

Here you go.

You aint got shit DJ, raise.

- Thank you Mr. Ungar.

Best of luck in your new house.

- River jail Stuey.

- Motherfucker.

(crickets chirping)

- Stuey,

Stuey.

Stu.

- What What?

Everything okay?

- Yeah.

- Yeah?

- Salmon or Hunter Green?

- What?

- I think Salmon.

- Oh fuck Angela I'm sleeping.

- No, no,

Salmon or Hunter Green Stu?

- Oh fuck me.

- No, Stuey, you haven't spent one second in the new house,

and I have made every decision, all right?

So now I wanna know,

should the dining room be salmon,

or hunter fucking green.

I told you, you could do whatever you wanted in the house

and I told you I didn't wanna see anything

until it was all done, okay?

So paint the fucking thing Day-Glo Purple, for all I care.

Just leave me the fuck alone, all right?

- You asshole.

Stuey!

(exhaling)

I'm pregnant.

- Okay so I'm gonna ask you what you're gonna do

with the prize money and you'll say,

- Lose it.

- Okay sure.

Hmm you ready Jim?

- I'm here with Stu The Kid Ungar

who successfully defended his World Series of Poker

title here today, making him not only

the youngest player to ever win the even,

but only the second after Johnny Moss

to win it twice in a row.

So what are you gonna do with $375,000 Stu?

- I'm gonna put it in the bank

and give it to my kid, what else?

- You should have been cruising.

- I was.

- You were.

- I went on fucking Merv Griffin for Christ Sake.

- Then why'd you say that?

- I was kidding.

- Sure you didn't miss it?

- Miss losing?

You're an idiot.

- You started with the sports again.

- Yeah so what, we had plenty,

great house, cars, vacations.

And Nicky.

- Your daughter.

- Yeah.

You got kids?

- No.

- It's the most amazing thing.

- You don't sound amazed.

- Yeah.

- See, a kid is you

perfect.

Now you get all excited and all of a sudden

you're married to a--

- Mommy.

- Yeah.

(grunting and laughing)

- Stuey, Stuey.

- Uh-oh did you break something?

- Probably.

- Hi mommy.

- Hey hunny

How ya doing?

Listen, go see if Scott has enough water, okay?

- Okay.

- Table looks good.

- How do you think DJ likes his roast cooked Stuey.

- I don't know.

- How about raw, think he'll like that?

How about Susan?

- What are you talking about?

- You didn't pay the electric bill again did you?

- Shit.

- Yeah shit.

And now they have to come back over

and turn it on again.

And I have to call Susan and make something up.

It's embarrassing Stuey.

- Can't we just pay 'em for the whole year or something?

- No!

That's not the way it works.

We can put it on a credit card,

but we don't have a credit card.

- They're a ripoff.

- Oh yeah yeah.

And the banks steal your money

and the government steals your money

and everybody steals your money.

But you can lose 20 or 50 or 100 grand

betting football and it's okay, right?

'cause you got action, right?

And that's what's really important, isn't it Stuey?

- You know sometimes you can be a real cunt Angie.

(slapping)

sometimes you make me fucking sick.

(upbeat music)

- Then he was like raise,

You should've seen that fucking guy's

face, man, He was scared shit.

- Oh come on DJ, it's fine,

we're having a party,

Aren't we havin' a fucking party, or what?

- [Crowd] Yeah!

- Yeah man.

- So what did you score like 800Gs?

- Yeah something like that.

- Look, I gotta go, okay?

- Oh, come on.

We're just getting started here, DJ.

- No, man I'm done.

Thanks for the drink.

- Take it slow bro.

Ouch man, leaving me hanging.

So, Stu, can I call you Stu?

- Yeah, sure.

- So, Stu, have you met the lovely Sondra?

- Oh hello dear.

- The man with the big stack.

- You are my hero man.

Come here sit with my buddy Stu here Sondra.

These look good.

Yeah tell you what.

Why don't you get, you know, a little acquainted

and we'll start moving these folks our of here.

We could settle up later,

okay, Stu?

- Yeah, sure.

- Thanks, Tony.

So you got business tonight?

- No no business.

- No business, that's good.

Business aint no fun.

- No fun at all.

- What, home Oh

(snorting)

no there's no fucking way I could do this shit at home.

- Why your wife doesn't like to party?

- She doN't do shit no more

except bitch at me all the time.

- That's a drag.

- Drag?

Yeah fuck yeah.

I mean she used to be able to drink me out of the table

now it's just like bitch, bitch, bitch, bitch all the time.

Like you'd think she had a shitty life

or something like that.

Like she didn't live in a fucking mansion

that I bought for her.

She's like--

- Ungrateful.

- Yes Yes Exactly that.

She's fucking ungrateful Here.

Here Look.

Look look there you go, right there.

- Stuey.

- Right there.

- Stuey.

- You're happy, right?

You're thrilled, right?

- You're grateful right?

- This is like $30,000.

- That's right, you're grateful,

but she's not grateful, you understand that?

I don't know what it is.

Maybe she wants me to be like a fucking lawyer

or something like that, like being the greatest fucking

card player in the world's not enough for her.

I mean would you give a shit

if I don't pay my electrical bill on time, no.

Why should you?

You got 30 grand right there.

With her, it's fucking different

'cause that shit is not important.

That shit doesn't fucking matter to her.

It's amazing it doesn't.

And I never hit her,

I never touched Nicky ever ever ever did I do,

never laid a hand on her,

Not that she hasn't smacked me.

No, that's okay, I guess.

I don't know.

There's a different standard.

There's a double standard there, why?

- Stuey, baby, you're the greatest.

- Why where you going?

We could order some food or something.

- No I gotta go right now but you know.

I'm gonna call you and we're gonna hookup later okay?

- Generous.

- Ah man what the fuck was I supposed to do?

Angie wouldn't even touch me by then.

- But you didn't really mind.

You had two new mistresses.

- Yeah aren't you fucking clever.

- But you don't deny it.

- It's not that simple.

- Or maybe you don't want it to be.

- Look man,

why don't you just fucking kill me

or break my legs, or whatever the fuck you're gonna do,

'cause I've had enough of this shit.

- You mean that.

(exhaling)

- No.

But I don't wanna talk about this no more.

- Go on, Stuey.

We need this.

- Oh come on what is this,

the mysterious Chinese thing again?

- Taiwanese.

- Yeah whatever the fuck it is,

it aint gonna work you're playing shit

like you always do so why don't you just

fucking do something?

- Exactly why you a shitty player now.

- Oh kiss my ass kinky boy.

Look hunny why don't you go get some friend chicken

okay and shut the fuck up.

- I don't have to take this shit, floor?

- Mr. Ungar, please.

- Oh, Bob, go fuck yourself, okay?

- Security!

Get him out.

- Why don't you just fucking kiss me, okay,

because you've been fucking me all night, anyway.

- Who the fuck you think you are.

(yelling)

(car beeping)

(dramatic music)

- Angie?

Angie?

Ange?

Hello?

The fuck is going on?

Hello?

Hey.

Don't fucking tell me this.

Don't you fucking tell me this.

Motherfucker!

You motherfucker!

Huh?

You're just gonna leave?

Yeah?

You're gonna take my fucking kid

and you're gonna fucking leave,

you're gonna fucking take my kid?

You fucking miserable cunt!

That's what you're gonna do?

Yeah?

Yes, it's me.

I know I know.

I'm sorry, okay?

I'm sorry.

Yeah.

Give me New York plus 720,

yeah that isn't that what I said.

Okay.

Yeah.

There that's for you.

Right that's for you.

Right up your fucking face.

You miserable cunt bitch!

Fuck it!

(metal clanking)

- Aren't you getting a little tired of this shit?

- My stomach is fucking killing me.

- I mean they told me they found you

hanging around an apartment building

in the middle of the night.

- I don't remember, DJ.

I don't.

- Alright alright.

- I'll pay you don't worry.

- No don't start.

- I'll pay, I got a line on something good, I'll pay you.

- Bullshit you haven't got a line on anything man

you need to get your head screwed on right.

- Hey ,fuck you, man, okay?

I don't need any lectures right now.

- Fuck me?

Me and you, you wanna fuck me?

Fuck you you prick.

You like that, Stuey? Huh?

Well, you better get used to it, man.

(dramatic music)

- Well, I haven't been in this room since, uh, Susan left.

But this ought to do huh?

- It's nice.

- Well I'll let you get settled.

- Okay.

- I meant it Stuey, I really meant it.

- DJ I got it, no booze, no coke, nothing.

- Right on okay great.

Oh listen, I'll be making spaghetti later.

- Well Bellagio's got a great--

- No, no Stuey.

- Okay, spaghetti's fine.

- You know you could come to a meeting with me.

- Yeah, one thing at a time, okay, DJ?

- Yeah Yeah, sure Okay.

Alright well listen I'll just call you

when dinner's ready.

- These okay?

- Oh, yeah. Sure.

Wait a minute

Hold on,

Susan always, uh, always kept one of these

in the drawer in the bathroom for guests.

- She thought of everything, huh?

- Yeah, she did.

(dramatic music)

- Not today, brother.

Not today.

(upbeat music)

- Good morning!

(buzzing)

- It's good!

No shit.

It's really good!

- It is isn't it.

How about the potatoes?

- A little crunchy.

- I can put them back in.

- No no they're fine.

- Have you heard from Susan?

- No, no point.

Makes the husband nervous.

Angela?

- She's signing the divorce papers next week.

But I'll get to see Nicky.

- It's a whole lot better than being a phone daddy.

What was she last time?

- Uh I dunno, nine?

I don't remember watching that.

- You'll be better now.

- We sure fucked it up, didn't we?

(chuckling)

- Deluxe.

- You know

if I'd have known

about corned beef earlier, it woulda worked out.

(chuckling)

- I think I'll wait for the number 14,

it's roomier you know.

- Stuey, Stuey, Stuey, always the smart ass.

Come on, kid.

Get in.

You know Vanessa, Crystal.

Crystal be polite.

- Oh no thank you.

- Really?

I'm impressed.

I heard you cleaned up, didn't wanna believe it.

Love the glasses.

Very sophisticated.

Listen Stuey.

You know that the series is up in a couple of weeks.

- Yeah.

- So you're playing?

- I'm retired from that living.

- What?

Come on.

What are you gonna do,

start knocking off little old ladies in nickel machines?

Where's your competitive spirit?

I know, I know, I know.

You're worried about the money.

No, you wouldn't do that.

Of course not.

You never worry about the money.

But.

Maybe you're afraid you aint so good anymore?

- Oh I'm good.

- That's what I wanna hear Stuey.

You're my horse, wrong choice of word.

You're my guy, you're my go to man,

You're my player, all right?

- I gotta think about that.

(laughing)

you gotta think.

Look at this.

I'm willing to front this man

$10,000 entry fee girls,

you gotta think about it.

Shit, Vegas just aint what it used to be anymore.

- Thanks for the ride.

- My pleasure, so you'll call?

- Yeah sure.

- Stuey by the way.

I understand your daughter's in town this week?

I just know she'd love to watch you play.

(dramatic music)

- Daddy?

You okay?

- Yeah yeah yah, oh God.

Look at you you look so beautiful.

- You look great too, doesn't he mom?

- Yes he does.

Those are for me, huh?

- Yeah.

You need to sign where the little sticky things are.

- Sure.

- You should go wait by the car Nicky.

- Okay.

I'll talk to you later daddy?

- Yes.

You used to try and get me

to come out here, remember?

- Yeah.

- Now I come out here all the time by myself.

It's funny right?

- You really do look good.

- You too.

- She's a lot like you.

- Oh, shit.

- No.

In a good way.

We're, uh, we're gonna be moving back, Stuey.

I got a job.

Doesn't change anything.

- Of course not.

- See ya.

- Angie.

Can we get together maybe?

Have a cup of coffee or something later.

- I don't know.

Maybe.

- Daddy, I almost forgot,

you wanted one of these,

It'll bring you luck at the series.

Bye.

- Nicky.

If I lose, you're gonna feel--

- Don't be silly daddy,

You can't lose, not with me around.

- And as aggressive as Stuey has been throughout,

here he comes again,

he raises $40,000.

- Al you know that at one point in this tournament

Stu raised seven times in a row

with no one calling him?

Was he bluffing?

- Of course he was bluffing,

but no one was willing to be the one to bell the cap.

No one was willing to be the one to pay to find out

if Stu was bluffing.

- Looking at this flop,

strump was about a two to one favorite

to win this particular hand.

- Well, that's no help for Stu,

because he needs a four or a deuce on the final card

to win it.

And there it is.

(audience clapping and cheering)

- Some people said I was crazy

take a dominated hand like ace four against ace eight.

But wherever you are.

you gotta consider all your outs.

See sometimes they save you.

But sometimes,

you really ain't got no outs at all.

(dramatic music)

- You won.

- Yeah, mad world champion.

- Again.

A bona fide legend.

- Oh, yeah.

- Everybody's hero.

- Uh-huh.

Fully blowing.

- You know they're looking for you?

- Oh, all the time, man.

They're always keeping me straight.

See, that's the great thing about Vegas.

Is, is people are always doing favors for each other.

- You're no good to them strung out.

- That's not what this is all about, is it man?

- No.

And Nicole?

- She'll make it,

and Angie too, they made really good choices,

they make it good they'll be fine.

- DJ?

- Or he got married again that's what I heard.

I guess that he figured something out

that I know I couldn't figure out.

- Yeah.

- Yeah see,

life is a people game too, only,

the emphasis is just a little bit different.

- So you got where you've seen me.

- Oh yeah.

When my stomach hurts.

- So you know.

- Everyone's got tales man.

- Some people never see 'em.

- And so what happens now?

- Nothing too dramatic, you might like it.

(dramatic music)

- I was always leaving here with you wasn't I?

- Yeah.

You did good anyway.

- Really?

Thanks.

We could play a couple of hands for, you know.

- Never much good at cards.

(dramatic music)

(upbeat rock music)